Christmas Moods.

Although 2007's Christmas is over, the moods still remain within us. I must admit that this is not my best Christmas without the presence of son, Chris, Amy and Zoey, our little cute grand-daughter who is a little over two years. Chris called on X'mas night when we spoke to Amy and we enjoyed the X'mas songs rendered to us by our little Zoey. I wondered how she could keep herself awake as it was well past 11.00 pm. Jenny, my eldest daughter, called from Singapore to greet each and everyone a Merry X'mas. We really missed them but there was a small consolation from Josephine and her hubby, John who celebrated X'mas to their fullest satisfaction.

John, usually had to fly back to work each time after the Christmas celebrations but not this time as he was transferred back to KK which is about fifteen drive to his hometown in Penampang. They invited a few close friends to their house. They put up the lightings, decorations and wrapped-up presents around the X'mas tree. They ensured that those who were present left for home with at least a X'mas present. I could not imagine their tired- looking faces but they really enjoyed themselves buying presents and goodies. The most tiring moments of the day when John had to purchase those fishes and prawns from the wet market at 6.00am for the barbecue on Christmas eve. To save time for other preparations, they ordered some foods from the nearby restaurant. Josephine was rushing back to our house to get some stuffs for the barbecue. With all those excitements here and there, I regret for not joining them. Due to my immobility, I did not spend the X'mas eve in their house but my wife Elsie took the trouble to bring back some foods for me in between the celebrations. We must also thank our family friends, both Francis and his wife, Kah Choo for having contributed some assistances towards the success of the barbecue party. The most difficult part of the day was to clean and tidy up the mess being left behind. They did a marvellous job by taking care of it. For Josephine and John, it was a time worth spending.

Next to come is the Chinese New Year celebration which we will be looking forward to it.

UNBEARABLE PAINFUL EXPERIENCES.

Due to my stubbornness for refusing to heed the advices of my parents and friends, I ended up having hypertension which was just the beginning of my fate. To make things worse, high cholesterol also found its way to my blood streams as the result of too much intake of red meats, fatty meats and oily stuffs. The pleasure of consuming them went on and on until one fine day, when my blood pressure reading soared up to 210/120 which was abnormally high for my age. In fact, I could never believe that my blood pressure would catapult to such a height. I felt very panicky.

The hospital dressers in the hospital accused me of not taking my medication regularly. I didn't want to argue with them and let them said what they liked. However, I asked myself what really triggered my blood pressure to such an unbelievable height even though I was on regular medication. The doctor at the hospital asked me about my sleep. Do I usually wake up at night? That was the answer which I could not deny, 'yes'. For the past few weeks, I had numerous sleepless nights by waking up as early 1.00 am and sometimes between 2.00 am and 3.00 am and I could not continue to sleep. Well, the doctor prescribed an additional medicine to curb the blood pressure to normalcy. I should thank the doctor for helping me to control the blood pressure. After what the doctor advised me to get as much sleep at night, I tried not get disrupt my normal sleep but only to get up once during the night and then continue my sleep until 5.30 in the morning. This morning, I had my monthly review with the Specialist at the Clinic who was very pleased with my blood pressure reading of 130/70. I am happy to learn that my blood pressure is very much under control. I have been put on two weeks' trial with some changes in drugs. I am required to see her after the trial period.

The second part of my health problems is the never-ending GOUT. I contacted it at a very young age and it has followed me for so many years. I had reached an very embarrassing stage that when I had a severe attack of gout at my right toe and ankle, I literally could not stand up but to the extent of crawling to the toilet. The pain was so unbearable with every movement restricted as the result I just had to lie down and did nothing but rested. I realised that after taking too much meat and seafoods, I would be doomed by the attack. These days, I drink at least 7 to 8 glasses of water to 'replenish' part of the 80% of water in our bodies and 'detoxify' the toxins in my body system. Literally, I have no choice but to refrain from taking excessive meat, seafoods, beans and nuts and 'cooling' certain type of leafy and stalky vegetables. Although the doctor had prescribed for me 'Allopurinol' to check further attacks of gout but I must ensure that I stay away from those 'evil' stuffs even though there is a an urge and 'temptation' of eating them. So far, at this stage, I am free from GOUT but now I am more prepared to face the next onslaught if it comes to 'haunt' me again?

CHRISTMAS IS ROUND THE CORNER.

I could remember very vividly that as a youth, I was selected as one of the altar boys serving the Sunday masses weekly. From an altar-boy, I was recruited as a member of the choir. I was overjoyed as I have a passion for singing especially the Christmas carols. We had to stay back after each mass to practise singing the Christmas carols a month before Christmas as we were required to visit the houses listed in the iterinary. I felt so excited about singing. When the time was drawing near, we were asked to dress smartly during the rehearsals. We had a few more practices to near perfection before taking off. There were about fifteen boys and girls in the choir. As I was short, I was asked to stand in the front roll. My goodness, I felt a bit nervous and shy but I braced myself by remaining calm. Those standing in front were very noticeable so I could not afford to make any mistake.

We visited the first house belonging to Mr, Chong. The whole families and relatives were waiting for us to greet them with Christmas songs. We belted out our best performance but to our surprise, Mr. Chong and the other members of the family and relatives joined in. After the carol-singing was over, we recited a short prayer requesting the Lord to bless the foods which we were about to eat. Mr. Chong must have spent sometime preparing the foods and drinks before-hand. We were cautioned by our Choir leader (Jim) not to fill our stomachs too much as we had about four more houses to visit. Jim was right, a good thing that most of us were small eaters so we ensured that we did not filled our stomachs until we reached the last house where we ate to our satifaction. Jim collected the red packets for our efforts from each of the houses. In fact, I never felt better as Jim was beaming with a smile, each we left the house. He told us that he was mighty proud to work with us and was anxiously looking forward for the next Christmas.

When we reached home, it was almost midnight. My parents were worried about me as it was late for my standard as I usually sleep at nine at night. I could not sleep as both my mother and father wanted to know how I felt and whether we enjoyed ourselves. I told them that we were feeling so excited for next Christmas to come. I was tossing in the bed with my eyes wide open and felt happy that we sang to our level best. The Christmas carols which we sang kept ringing in my ears. Merry X'mas n a Happy New Year.

VALUE OF GOOD REPUTATION

It was on a fine day when I travelled in a train, one burly- looking guy, out of the blues, started cursing and swearing aloud. We could see from the facial expressions of the other train passengers that they felt offended by the distinctly foul language of this particular passenger. There was a brave gentleman who tried to pacify him by asking him to tone down his voice but to no avail.

When this offensive passenger got off the train, one of the passengers put his head out of the window and called out:

'Friend, you have left something behind you.'

'What is it?' the man asked, hurrying into the coach.

'Merely a very bad reputation,' said the caller.

So, when it comes to influencing people a good reputation is imperative.

There are people who give little, if any, importance to the value of good reputation or name but yet a good name is rather to be chosen than a hoard of riches.

In the political arena a good name is a rare commodity but in the business world, it is as good as CASH. You may go about with an empty purse and still get what you may want if you have it.

In the family, a good reputation may be considered the most precious heritage.

In school, it means a high standard. In the government, the good name of its employees means efficient, contented and peaceful citizens.

'The two most precious things on this side of the grave are our reputation and our life,' but it is rather sad that the most compatible whisper may deprive us of the one and the weakest weapon of the other.

'A wiseman, therefore, will be more anxious to deserve a fair name than to possess it and this will teach him so to live as not to be afraid to die.'

HIGH INTAKE OF SALT.

When I was young, my mother used to caution us not to take salty stuff or to add sauce to our foods. I was quite stubborn then and did not heed her warnings. I was thinking to myself that salt is added to make the foods taste better. No salt, the foods do not taste nice. Later when I discovered that the chicken blood when added with a few drops of salt would coagulate or clotting the blood in a bowl. Then I realised that the same theory applies to our blood vessels as sodium excess leads to abnormal fluid and electrolyte balance and also causes high blood pressure.

In reality, salt is not necessary at all. Several foods have salt content in them and deliberate addition during cooking and processing pushes salt use to the indiscrimate level.

In fact, every cell in the body needs salt. Salt, as we call the common cooking salt, is sodium chloride. Sodium is an ion. Excessive sodium is bad to blood vessels and heart. Indian diet makes one consume about 4 to 9 grams of salt every day. It is indeed preferable to restrict salt intake to 2 to 3 grams a day. In most Malay and Indian restaurants, the foods taste very salty as excessive salt is added to preserve them from turning bad. Usually, after dining in an Indian or a Malay restaurant, I would feel very thirsty due to the addition of excessive salt in the foods.

Some processed foods with added preservatives contain high quantities of sodium. Most preservatives contain sodium in some combined form like sodium benzoate, sodium alginate and sodium bicarbonate.

Thus, one must remember that salt adds nothing except taste, so it should be added in foods indiscriminately.

I then recalled that what a foolish person was I for listening to my mother's advice. I have no one to blame but myself for not heeding to my mother as the result, I am now suffering from my hypertension and high chloresterol. I consider myself to be very lucky though I had two minor strokes in a space of fifteen months. I just cannot afford to ignore taking my medication regularly but to refrain from taking excessive salt for fear of having a third deadlystroke.

LET SLEEPING DOG LIES.

It is widely acknowledged that never ever disturb a sleeping dog which goes to say that "let sleeping dog lies". As a matter of fact that if a dog is well-fed, bathed and well-looked after, one will notice that it is always in a good mood. If it was not fed yet at the same being instigated then hell will break loose. It will snarl by showing its teeth, a warning sign of anger, so that is the time when one should run for cover. Somehow, one has to start looking for a solution before things get out of hand. The same saying applies to all human beings.

Recently, more than 10,000 Malaysian Indians staged an uproar and demonstration known as the Hindu Rights Actions Force (Hindraf) rally against the Government for the demolition of a temple and some policies which prevented the poor ones from getting decent jobs or good education for their children. Himdraf thinks that the Indians are marginalised. A certain political party called on Samy Vellu to step down to pave the way for a younger Indian. If one could remember the May 13, 1969 incidents where there were clashes between the Chinese and the Malays which resulted to many losses of innocent lives, loved ones and the properties. Although all of these fightings are mainly for their survival and dignity yet they could be avoided if the Government is fair to all races. With all these demonstrations going on, it does not look good to unity and tolerance in this country. There are many more other incidents which are worthwhile to mention but it is best not to relate.

If the Government feels that a certain race is stirring up the racial conflict, then the question should be thrown back at them by asking themselves whether what they practise is fair and truly looking after all the citizens. It is no use by just lip-saying but nothing has turned out of it. Be it Indians, Chinese, Malays and the rest of the races are all flesh and blood and each of us has to live. So for what good reasons should the Government be bias?

The above is just a general opinion and illustration with no political bearing at all.